I Like Movies Film Review
“Almost Famous” was a retro film about a precocious teenager who was obsessed with music. “I Like Movies” is a film that has some parallels to that classic. It’s a dramedy about a cinephile who is completing his final year of high school. This is a fun story that reminds us all of a time in our lives where films or music were not just a hobby, they were as life-giving as blood.
Chandler Levack directs this film, which she also wrote. Levack draws inspiration from her own life and is certainly an authority on films, as she is also a critic. This could have been yet another coming of age story but instead she tackles a bunch of different threads from topics like family and convenient friendships, all the way through to something as important as #MeToo.
Rewind back to the early 2000s and you will find yourself in the world of “I Like Movies.” This is set in Canada at a time where video stores were the way we consumed films, one tape at a time. It was lovely and nostalgic to take this trip down memory lane to simpler times. This film has been shot on a shoestring budget, and its muted palette and square aspect ratio make the proceedings feel authentic.
Viewers will find that their enjoyment of this film is going to hinge on how much they like the lead character, Lawrence Kweller. Isiah Lehtinen brings a lot of empathy to a role that could have been dismissed as a know-it-all jackass. Lehtinen shows he has a bright future ahead of him by displaying a lovely, underdog vibe. By the end, we are all hoping he gets to realise his dreams of studying at a prestigious film school.
Kweller goes on a journey of self-discovery here. He learns a lot about his friendship with his hard-as-nails manager, Alana (Romina D’Ugo). She reminds us that pursuing your dream job isn’t always what it cracked up to be. Kweller meanwhile acts like a misunderstood genius with a placeholder friend (Matt Macarchuck) and a mum (Krista Bridges) who each try to keep him straight in their own unique ways.
This film is chock full of Easter eggs, which will appeal to cinephiles. There are throwbacks to other flicks including some nods to “Clerks.” There is also a lot of discussion around famous directors, not least because Kweller often recommends Todd Solondz’s “Happiness”, which he sees as far superior to the children’s classic “Shrek.”
“I Like Movies” is a sweet ode to pop culture. It is about looking back and celebrating those things you loved as an adolescent, as these often still carry meaning as we grow up. “I Like Movies” is poised to be your new favourite film as it is such an entertaining little ditty, it really has much to offer lovers of the silver screen.
About the Author
Natalie Salvo Natalie is a Sydney-based writer and lover of all things music, food, photography comedy, art, theatre. You can find her digging in crates at good record stores.
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